California Delicioushttp://blog.californiadelicious.com
Delivering the California Good LifeSat, 20 Dec 2014 13:29:52 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.1.1Giveaway Winner & Writer Sara Ataiiyan at the Sonoma International Film Festival 2014http://blog.californiadelicious.com/giveaway-winner-writer-sara-ataiiyan-shares-sonoma-film-festival-highlights/
http://blog.californiadelicious.com/giveaway-winner-writer-sara-ataiiyan-shares-sonoma-film-festival-highlights/#commentsFri, 02 May 2014 22:33:48 +0000http://blog.californiadelicious.com/?p=3090I’ve lived in Sonoma County for nearly twenty years, but I’ve never had the opportunity to attend the Sonoma International Film Festival. I was thrilled to…

]]>I’ve lived in Sonoma County for nearly twenty years, but I’ve never had the opportunity to attend the Sonoma International Film Festival. I was thrilled to win tickets and was there every chance I had for the duration of the festival.

First stop was at the VIP house where I picked up my badges and gift bag filled with all kinds of treats. I started out with the filmmaker’s mixer at HopMonk Tavern to chat with other filmmakers and members of the media. We swapped cards, project ideas, and of course had some great micro-brewery drinks.

It’s not uncommon to hear a variety of different accents and languages in Sonoma’s downtown area, even more so during the International Film Festival. People come from all over the world to visit just for the wine; but the festival also made sure to highlight local filmmakers and movies specifically about California. Nonetheless, I don’t think I’ve ever tasted so much wine in my life. There were glasses offered at short film screenings, after parties, and organized tastings.

During one wine-filled shorts screening, I watched a short that interviewed micro-brewers up and down the state, featuring brewers from Sonoma County like Russian River Brewery and Lagunitas IPA. Another was how actress and activist Tippi Hedren helped female refugees from Vietnam in California, which lead to the proliferation of Vietnamese-American owned nail salons there is today.

During the day I strolled around the square, checking out the shops. Saturday night was my first party, Out in the Vineyard, which was preceded by the documentary Queens and Cowboys. A DJ and dance floor was set up under a big white tent in the center of the plaza. Guests came in cowboy gear and danced until closing!

On the last day, I saw Sonoma filmmaker, Casey Beck’s film, The Organic Life. She documented a year in the life of of her boyfriend who decides to become an organic farmer. He still works at a family farm in Sonoma, and the film recently was picked up to be shown on Hulu Plus. Even though it was the festival’s second screening of The Organic Life, the venue was completely sold out.

Closing night of the festival I saw the film Belle, soon to be released in theaters. It’s the fascinating story of a mixed-race noblewoman in England. With the proliferation of on-demand digital viewing, it’s nice that events like this remind us how fun sitting with a group of people in the dark in front of a large screen can be.

]]>http://blog.californiadelicious.com/giveaway-winner-writer-sara-ataiiyan-shares-sonoma-film-festival-highlights/feed/07 Best Places to Celebrate the Holidays in Californiahttp://blog.californiadelicious.com/7-best-places-to-celebrate-the-holidays-in-california/
http://blog.californiadelicious.com/7-best-places-to-celebrate-the-holidays-in-california/#commentsFri, 20 Dec 2013 01:59:47 +0000http://blog.californiadelicious.com/?p=2554Here are the 7 Best Places to Celebrate the Holiday Season in California in 2013… 1. Disneyland a.k.a The Happiest Place on Earth According to their site: “From November 12, 2013…

]]>Here are the 7 Best Places to Celebrate the Holiday Season in California in 2013…

1. Disneyland a.k.a The Happiest Place on Earth

According to their site: “From November 12, 2013 through January 6, 2014, the entire Disneyland Resort transforms into a magnificent winter wonderland.” Special events and attractions include the Christmas Fantasy Parade, Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle, Jingle Cruise and much more

2. With Exotic Animals at Safari West in Santa Rosa

Romp with the Beasts this New Years Eve at Safrai West. According to the site: “Go wild this New Year’s at Safari West’s annual…Romp with the Beasts! Make like Meryl Streep in Out of Africa and indulge in a festive dinner and dancing in the Sonoma Serengeti. Wine and beer are available for purchase with your meal. Split after midnight strikes or enjoy all the creature comforts and spend the night in a luxury safari tent.”

3. In the most Christmassy place of all- Lake Tahoe

Whether you love charging down a hill on a pair of skis or a snowboard, or prefer to read a book and relax by the fire, overlooking the beautiful lake in your slippers, Lake Tahoe really has it all. There are even casinos and nightclubs for the more restless revelers!

4. Wine Tasting in Napa Valley

Need I say more? Nothing says Happy Holidays like a delicious California Cabernet Sauvignon. Visit the wonderful Silver Oak Cellars, go ice-skating downtown or check out the Third Annual Gingerbread House Contest- whatever you fancy- there’s something for everyone! See site for more details.

5. The Ultimate Winter Wonderland- Yosemite National Park

Romp around in the great outdoors, go hiking and appreciate the wonder of nature this holidays season. And once you’ve built up an appetite, head to the world-famous Ahwahnee for the Bracebridge Dinner. According to the site: “Celebrated annually since 1927, the Bracebridge Dinner transforms The Ahwahnee into a 17th century English manor for a feast of food, song and mirth. The inspiration for this yuletide ceremony was Washington Irving’s Sketch Book that described Squire Bracebridge and English Christmas traditions of that period.”

6. Unconventional Sun-kissed Christmas on the beaches of Los Angeles

A picture speaks a thousand words.

There are also many Holiday-themed activities, most importantly the Rose Parade. According to Visit California: “Enjoy America’s New Year’s Day celebration! Celebrate 125 years of the Rose Parade. How many years have you sat in your living room “oohing and aahing” and wondering what the spectacular floats look like in “real life”? View these one-of-a-kind works of art the day prior to the parade, then wake up early the next morning and enjoy the parade from the grandstands!”

7. Visiting the Hearst Castle in Big Sur

Been there before? Maybe yes but have you seen their Christmas decorations?! According to their site: “Beginning Thanksgiving weekend through the end of December, the main house and guest houses are decorated just as they might have been on Christmas in the 1920s and 30s, creating an impressive sight and a special atmosphere that is sure to make the season bright for you and the whole family.”

All photos by Joey & Patrick Risberg

So wherever you go in California, you’re bound to have a wonderful Holiday experience.

*~*~*Happy Holidays from California Delicious! *~*~*

]]>http://blog.californiadelicious.com/7-best-places-to-celebrate-the-holidays-in-california/feed/0Cycling from the Gateway Arch to the Golden Gate – Rediscovering the Golden State – one pedal at a timehttp://blog.californiadelicious.com/cycling-from-the-gateway-arch-to-the-golden-gate-rediscovering-the-golden-state-one-pedal-at-a-time/
http://blog.californiadelicious.com/cycling-from-the-gateway-arch-to-the-golden-gate-rediscovering-the-golden-state-one-pedal-at-a-time/#commentsTue, 10 Dec 2013 22:30:17 +0000http://blog.californiadelicious.com/?p=2407Art Director Tad tells us about his epic 5-day cycling adventure through the beautiful Northern California landscapes… I have always enjoyed bicycling for lots of reasons. From the…

I have always enjoyed bicycling for lots of reasons. From the health benefits, being outdoors, self-reliance, peace of mind and the simple freedom and fun that pedaling a bike gives me.

When an old college buddy (and big bicycling enthusiast) from St. Louis, MO, recently came to visit Northern California for the first time, I had the chance to rediscover and share the beauty of the state. Our plan was to ride our bikes during the 5-day window we had over as much of what I proposed to be the best of the best bicycling that defined California and the California Coast. We had hoped to include: Mt. Tamalpais, Big Sur, Lake Tahoe and the Wine Country. The plan was a tall order physically given our available time, but an exciting adventure, a chance at renewing a great friendship and an opportunity to see the Golden State from a different perspective – a bicycle.

Getting into town Saturday night, we quickly visited many San Francisco sight-seeing favorites: Lombard Street, Coit Tower, downtown, the Embarcadero and listening to the ‘singing seals’ at Pier 39.

Sunday morning we parked at the Presidio’s Sports Basement, picked up his great rental bike (Cannondale CAAD10 5 105), unpacked my Bianchi Imola from the car and began our bicycle adventure on what was an absolutely perfect weather day in the Bay Area.

We immediately climbed up and crossed the Golden Gate Bridge (west side on the weekends) and then climbed up again into the Marin Headlands to enjoy amazing views looking back over the bridge into the city. This view never gets old. Returning back over the bridge, sharing the path with lots and lots of fellow bicyclists, we carefully disassembled the bikes enough to get them both, with all of our gear for the next 5 days, comfortably inside my car. By noon we were in Stinson Beach, climbing Pan Toll to Mt. Tamalpais and along Ridgecrest with views of the Stinson Beach/ Bolinas Bay coastline. A challenging ride but worth every last grinding pedal for the scenery and views. Pan Toll is very curvy and lined with redwood trees and fern and Ridgecrest Blvd., which feels more like an exaggerated bike path, is used in many car commercials because of its fantastic location, panoramic views and swerving road pattern. Total ascent was close to 2000 feet and took about 2 ½ hours to complete. A true California Delicious moment came afterwards with a stop at In-N-Out in Mill Valley before heading to the Monterey/ Carmel area.

Once in Monterey, we stayed at the Monterey Plaza Hotel, an incredibly beautiful hotel on the water, in the middle of the action in Monterey – seconds from the famous Monterey Bay Aquarium in one direction and Cannery Row in the other. Hearty meals were enjoyed at Monterey’s Cannery Row Brewing Company.

Everything I had read about riding a bike down the Big Sur coast warned you about the lack of shoulder to ride on, the size (RVs!) and speed of the cars on the two-lane highway you’d be sharing the road with and the physical climbs, descents and wind that would all be a constant part of your ride. To answer the question if what I read was correct? Yes! Check, check and check to all of it. You had to stay very focused for all the reasons listed above but especially because the wind swirls, so crossing bridges and coming around bends is very unpredictable as the wind gusts. As challenging as it was on a bike, it was equally as dramatic in the views and natural beauty that the coastline offered.

It was so dramatic and so beautiful. Just when we thought we’d see the best angle or view of the coastline, we’d ride a little further and there would be an even more impressive sight to be seen. One of the many highlights going down the coast was crossing the Bixby Bridge. It is one of the tallest single-span concrete bridges in the world and one of the most photographed bridges on the west coast due to its design and scenic location. The River Inn and general store, located inside the Anthony Molera State Park – about 25 miles from the south end of Carmel was a much needed and appreciated rest stop for us, as well for a couple bicycle touring groups and vacationers we met while there. Out of reach for us on our ride, but worth the trip further down the coast would have been Hearst Castle in San Simeon. Total miles covered on the Big Sur coast was 50 miles.

Tuesday was a light day in comparison. We first biked to Pebble Beach, entering 17-mile drive from the Carmel-by the Sea side. This is recommended so you aren’t competing with the tour buses and traffic. After marveling at the spectacle of several holes and the clubhouse at Pebble Beach, we cycled by the Lone Cypress, The Links at Spanish Bay, Cypress Point Lookout and Carmel Bay. Looping back around to the very quaint downtown area of Carmel. Big Sur and the Monterey/ Carmel peninsula were truly magical. A must-do location whether by bike or automobile.

We packed up for the 5-hour drive up to Truckee, which is just a few miles from Lake Tahoe. Once in Truckee, we had a delicious, family-favorite, dinner at Village Pizzeria.

Riding around the United State’s second deepest (and maybe most beautiful) lake is a 72-mile adventure. Of course there is the constant natural beauty, little traffic, some very good climbs and descents and all of the little changes in location and appearance from town to town – Nevada side/ California side as you circle the lake. It’s highly recommended to ride around the lake clockwise so that you have the lake at your side the whole time and also recommended to start your ride in Incline Village, NV to help get through higher climbs earlier in your ride and to minimize traffic through busier parts of the day as you go through South Lake Tahoe, Emerald Bay, Tahoma, Homewood, Tahoe City, Kings Beach and Incline Village. Riding on a non-weekend day was beneficial too. Although we started our ride at 28 degrees (8:30am) it warmed up into the mid 60’s by the middle of the afternoon. All of it was great riding filled with incredible views. A little more than seven hours later (lunch in Sunnyside), we proudly joined the fraternity of fellow riders that have circled the lake by bike. The Emerald Bay climb out of South Lake wasn’t as bad as I thought and the stretch from Tahoe City to Kings Beach was longer than I thought.

Thursday was our last riding day and when we got to the Napa Valley town of Yountville in the early afternoon, it was 86 degrees with not a cloud in the sky.

After stopping in for a map and some riding suggestions from the very helpful people at Napa Valley Bike Tours, we raced out to the Silverado Trail and up to the very comfortable grounds at V. Sattui winery in St. Helena and then on to Velo Vino (Clif Family Winery), which, especially if you are fan of bicycling, is a great little stop. Their friendly retail/tasting room pays great respect to the passions of bicycling, food and wine. We finished our ride with stops at the Robert Mondavi Winery and the incredible Silver Oak Cellars winery. The wine country in California is a treasured place, filled with great wines, beautiful wineries and some incredible restaurants. Total distance in the wine country, 30 miles.

Total for the 5 days: 194 miles.

Five days of all-out riding through head-shakingly-gorgeous parts of California, accented by the chance to experience it by bicycle and shared with a great friend made for a very, very memorable time.

]]>Our amazing Warehouse Manager Christian tells about a hot (air) date with his girlfriend touring over wine country in Napa Valley…

My girlfriend and I went on a Hot Air Balloon ride from Yountville to Napa. The company is called “Balloons Above the Valley” and the staff was real friendly. When we hopped in the basket it felt safe and secure. The pilot started pumping hot air in to the balloon and they untied the rope and before you knew we were up in the air.

It did not take long at all to reach our peak. It was real smooth. As we got higher in the air everything below got smaller. I wasn’t scary at all. We were in the air for about and a half. It was an amazing ride and the weather was absolutely beautiful. It was nice seeing all the vineyards and landscape of NapaValley from the hot air balloon. It was a smooth ride and our pilot was very entertaining and had a lot of knowledge of Napa, so it made the experience that much better. There were a total of 10 people on the basket including the pilot and each group or couple had their own section in the basket which gave us some kind of privacy.

As we were in the air, the pilot pointed out some of the vineyards that we went by like the Robert Mondavi Vineyard and Mansion. He also pointed out the Silverado vineyards, Clos Du Val, Luna Vineyards, and Sterling Vineyards. My favorite part was just being up so high and looking at the Napa Valley landscape. My girlfriend’s favorite part was going over the schools in Napa and the kids were waving and jumping up and down as we flew by them. After the ride we went to Mustards Grill for brunch and had some delicious food and we enjoyed a glass of Gloria Ferrer Champagne to end the lovely day.

Travel Time-

Under 2 hours from Sacramento
1.5 hours from San Francisco
Under 9 hours from Los Angeles

]]>Our intrepid copywriter Andrea ventured up to Napa Valley, California to catch a glimpse of the fall colors and end of harvest season…

Fall is in full swing in the beautiful Napa Valley. When you are lucky enough to live in the San Francisco Bay Area, a trip to Napa is an easy jaunt, usually only about 45 minutes to an hour from most Bay Area locations. October is a beautiful month in the Valley. The leaves are starting to turn and everywhere you look is full of rich color and golden light. Many of the grapes had been picked by the time we made our way up there a few weeks ago, but there were still some red grapes lingering on the vines. Although Napa is best known for Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon, we have discovered a winery that delivers rich and robust Zinfandels and has grown to be our very favorite.

For over seventy years beginning in 1937 the Biale family has grown Zinfandel on a farm on the outskirts of the town of Napa. Most of the Zinfandel grapes were sold to Napa wineries but some grapes were reserved so Aldo Biale could make homemade wine for family and relatives. Over time, his special wine became very popular. In 1991, Aldo and son Robert formed a partnership with childhood friend and wine salesman Dave Pramuk, and winemaker Al Perry to produce and market a special Zinfandel from the old vineyard which they named “Aldo’s Vineyard.” With history, grapes, wine making and sales in place the new winery, Robert Biale Vineyards, gained recognition and a cultish following by Zinfandel fanatics. Once you’ve tried their delectable Zinfandel, you will see why! They have a small but comfortable tasting room and welcome visitors by appointment where we dropped by to taste and to pick up our wine shipment.

From Biale Vineyards, we meandered north along Highway 29 just past the small town of Yountville. We were salivating just at the thought of lunch at Mustard’s Grill, the famous Cindy Pawlcyn restaurant that has become a Napa Valley institution. Cindy started Mustard’s over 25 years ago and it’s well known for its wood-burning grill, fantastic wine list and the two acre organic garden that supplies most of the restaurants produce. Some of our favorite items on the menu are the onion rings, the seafood tostada and the sweet corn tamales. Everything is SO good! There are many great restaurants to choose from in the Napa Valley, and we have tried quite a few, but we keep coming back to Mustards.

Finally, after a full day and a full stomach, it was time to head south again, away from this magical Valley. It’s comforting to know that these beautiful vineyard vistas, fine wines and fresh, imaginative food is only a short drive away- anytime we need to revive our senses, we are ready to return.

Travel Time-

Under 2 hours from Sacramento
1.5 hours from San Francisco
Under 9 hours from Los Angeles

]]>http://blog.californiadelicious.com/whats-my-california-delicious-photo-contest-win-100-gift-card/feed/0Bottle Rock Music Festival: Napa, California- Part 1 Drinkshttp://blog.californiadelicious.com/bottle-rock-music-festival-napa-california-part-1-drinks/
http://blog.californiadelicious.com/bottle-rock-music-festival-napa-california-part-1-drinks/#commentsFri, 24 May 2013 01:01:51 +0000http://blog.californiadelicious.com/?p=968Bottle Rock was such a spectacular event that it can not be condensed into one post. In my opinion, it was the perfect California event. The food, drinks, and music…

]]>Bottle Rock was such a spectacular event that it can not be condensed into one post. In my opinion, it was the perfect California event. The food, drinks, and music were all perfectly curated by the organizers and the perfect weather and eclectic crowd made this event.

Being located in Napa, the marketing for this festival had (perhaps) over emphasized the wine element of the festival. There was (definitely) an overwhelming amount of wineries there and after the lights went down and music got better, people were less fussy about finding their 2010 Chardonnay and more concerned with grabbing a quick drink and rushing back to the crowd. Also, it must be mentioned that tasting wines out of plastic (or corn-product) rocks glasses is not ideal and very un-Napa.

The indivual wineries were indicated by the large red banners above their tents- some wineries shared tents.

I made sure to enjoy a glass of this delightful wine every morning I attended the festival!

There were some other beverage options available- The beer selection was the basic Budweiser family of beers but at a few “craft beer” tents, they were pouring a BottleRock IPA which my friends seemed to enjoy until it ran out (or they drank it all!)

In search of something fruitier, I found this wonderful vendor Deep Eddy, actually from Austin Texas, who was serving delicious vodka cocktails.

Despite being produced in Texas, the fruit used in the cocktails was 100% California grown so I can still consider this a California Delicious!

These are 2 fresh “Lucys” in their cute recyclable paper cups with their complimentary hand fan.

For the non-booze drinkers, there was good ole Starbucks- which was great for little pickmeups throughout the long days. Starbucks is also one of our vendors- we have numerous baskets featuring their products for example Starbucks Take A Break Gift Basket.

Finally BottleRock made their own elixirs that were undoubtedly the best value for money. Named Reverb Red and White Noise, they were in soft flask containers and had lanyards so people could wear them around their necks.

(Sadly these sold out on the last day before I was able to try them)

As you can see , the drinks were definitely a highlight of the festival experience and worthy of a full blog post.

]]>http://blog.californiadelicious.com/bottle-rock-music-festival-napa-california-part-1-drinks/feed/0What’s my California Delicious? A weekend of wine-tasting in Templeton, Californiahttp://blog.californiadelicious.com/whats-my-california-delicious-a-weekend-of-wine-tasting-in-templeton-california/
http://blog.californiadelicious.com/whats-my-california-delicious-a-weekend-of-wine-tasting-in-templeton-california/#commentsFri, 26 Apr 2013 22:56:58 +0000http://blog.californiadelicious.com/?p=663Our most intrepid Staffer Andrea gushes about one of California’s best kept secrets- Templeton. As a native Californian, I’ve been trying to spend more time to…

]]>Our most intrepid Staffer Andrea gushes about one of California’s best kept secrets- Templeton.

As a native Californian, I’ve been trying to spend more time to get to know the areas of this beautiful state that I am less familiar with. One recent weekend was spent in the gorgeous rolling hills of Templeton and Paso Robles, an area that is emerging as a world class wine producer. Many of the wineries with the Paso Robles appellation are located in unincorporated Templeton and there is a growing number that are flourishing in this Mediterranean climate. There is a growing production of olive oil, and there are many small groves growing excellent olives for oil and table olives.Some of the better known wineries are Castoro Cellars, Peachy Canyon and Wild Horse Winery, but there are many more to discover that are off the beaten path. On my short trip, we visited Wild Horse (and tasted some fabulous Pinot Noirs and a great Syrah), which began as a Senior project by local Cal Poly students in 1981.

We had a memorable meal at Thomas Hill Organics, a lovely restaurant in downtown Paso Robles that serves fresh and delicious organic food. Featuring gourmet salads, artisan pizzas and seasonal selections, the menu changes regularly based on the availability of produce and ingredients. We enjoyed a creamy burrata appetizer that came with mandarins and caramelized onions (to die for!) and a lemony yogurt and fresh pita (hot from the oven) dish as starters. Main courses consisted of a fresh Sea Bass entrée, flavorful flank steak and an Asian inspired Shrimp salad with fine rice noodles, limes and cucumbers. Everything was excellent and we were (to our great dismay) too full for dessert!

On Sunday, we spent the day wine tasting our way to our final destination- Starr Ranch Winery at 9320 Chimney Rock Road in Paso Robles. Starr Ranch is not easy to find and is worth the drive. When you reach the entrance, you drive up a hillside road lined with persimmon trees and reach the summit of the driveway. You then wind down through shady trees until you reach the tasting room and picnic area, overlooking a beautiful valley. This peaceful place is perfect for taking your time and breathing in the beauty of the area while enjoying the wide range of superb wines. The Winemaker herself will greet you and guide you through each sip, and it is an intimate and special way to spend an afternoon. Our California Delicious pick was the Starr Ranch Red- 2010 Marriage, “Like a good marriage, the equal contributions of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon bring out the best of each. Oozie cherry pie filling, cream soda with a touch of fresh tobacco leaf lead to a perfectly balanced finish bolstered by elegant tannins”. This would pair wonderfully with the California Delicious Classic California Cheese Picnic Gift Basket.

It was difficult to leave. In fact, Starr Ranch now offers lodging in a fun Airstream trailer, available for rental by those who truly do not want to leave! Set on a bluff overlooking the vineyards, fabulous sunsets and morning fog over the hills are yours to enjoy after a day tasting great wines.

Travel Time-

Under 4.5 hours from Sacramento
Under 3.5 hours from San Francisco
3.5 hours from Los Angeles

]]>http://blog.californiadelicious.com/whats-my-california-delicious-a-weekend-of-wine-tasting-in-templeton-california/feed/0Latin Fiesta Friday at the Sonoma International Film Festivalhttp://blog.californiadelicious.com/latina-fiesta-friday-at-the-sonoma-international-film-festival/
http://blog.californiadelicious.com/latina-fiesta-friday-at-the-sonoma-international-film-festival/#commentsThu, 25 Apr 2013 21:42:22 +0000http://blog.californiadelicious.com/?p=637Staff member Judy tells us about her recent trip to Sonoma for the International Film Festival Latin-themed after-party We went up for the third night of…

]]>Staff member Judy tells us about her recent trip to Sonoma for the International Film Festival Latin-themed after-party

We went up for the third night of the Sonoma Film Festival and arrived just in time for the Latin Fiesta Friday to begin. The party was located al fresco in the “backlot” venue, right in the middle of Sonoma’s town square and it was a perfectly warm evening. We donated the Gloria Ferrer champagne gift basket and Round Hill wine and gourmet gift basket to raffle off at the end of the festival and it was great to see them displayed in all their glory in this wonderful venue!

The fiesta was full of festival goers and sponsors, all adorned with their festivals passes, who were all celebrating their Fridays! We made our way through the tent, bouncing around to the live music performed by Carlos Herrera Band and sipping on wines provided by Festival Sponsors Ceja Vineyards and Robledo Family Winery. We mingled and chatted with other guests about the film festival; asking about the different movies and events that had occurred.

After the fiesta, we were still hungry and stopped by The Plaza Bistro and ordered the calamari dipped in lemon garlic and spicy aioli and the Pan Sauteed Scaloppine, which were both delicious! We knew it was a cool spot as it was packed with filmmakers and other industry people all celebrating their successes!

]]>http://blog.californiadelicious.com/latina-fiesta-friday-at-the-sonoma-international-film-festival/feed/0What’s my California Delicious? Walking in the footsteps of Hollywood stars on vacation in San Simeonhttp://blog.californiadelicious.com/whats-my-california-delicious-walking-in-the-footsteps-of-hollywood-stars-on-vacation-in-san-simeon/
http://blog.californiadelicious.com/whats-my-california-delicious-walking-in-the-footsteps-of-hollywood-stars-on-vacation-in-san-simeon/#commentsFri, 29 Mar 2013 16:51:35 +0000http://blog.californiadelicious.com/?p=350Staffer Maya describes her weekend getaway to beautiful Big Sur and Hearst Castle in San Simeon. Months ago, I purchased a Living Social deal for a…

]]>Staffer Maya describes her weekend getaway to beautiful Big Sur and Hearst Castle in San Simeon.

Months ago, I purchased a Living Social deal for a night’s stay in San Simeon with a wine tasting for 2 and bottle of wine included. Despite my initial excitement in booking the date, I forgot about it. Luckily my boyfriend reminded me. After living in the San Francisco Bay Area for over 4 years, he has never been south of San Jose and was very eager to cash in on this vacation gift I had bought us both.

So we headed down the 101 S and eventually hoped onto Highway 1 so that he could see the beautiful California Coastline as we traveled south. We arrived at the modern yet cozy Morgan Hotel in San Simeon proper and collected our complimentary bottle of Zinfandel with two souvenir glasses. After sampling the delicious local elixir, we called it a night in anticipation of the next day’s adventures at Hearst Castle.

The next morning was a little overcast, as is usual for this region but the glimmers of blue were enough to get us out of bed! We headed to the castle’s visitor center and bought our tickets for the Grand Rooms Museum Tour, which is recommended for first-timers. And so the adventure begins. We were escorted in solar-powered buses up the 1,600 ft. hillside on windy road to the castle. Once at the top of the hill, we were taken on a tour of the ground floor rooms including the dining room and living room- all filled with beautiful pieces of art that Hearst had either collected or received as gifts. These reception rooms were once merrily filled with the likes of Cary Grant, Charlie Chaplain and other Hollywood stars. The Marilyn Merlot gift basket would have been a great hostess gift to bring! Then we were left to explore the castle grounds and infamous swimming pools at your own pace. This was my favorite part of the whole trip. My boyfriend and I walked around the beautiful gardens and imagined our make-believe lives as William Hearst and Marion Davies, the host and hostess of Hearst Castle. The views were epic- the ocean which is 5 miles away from the estate, looked like a diamond mirage in the distance.

After reclining by the Neptune pool for an hour and trying to soak up the last few moments of the sun, we headed back down the hillside and back to reality.

On the way home to the Bay Area, we stopped by the Elephant Seal sanctuary and watched as the giant males relaxed in the sunshine with their harem of lady seals all tried to get closest to him. Not that different to humans!

It was a romantic getaway filled with Hollywood history, architecture,wine and elephants seals-some of my favorite things in the whole of beautiful California.

Fun Fact: After William’s death, Hearst Castle was given to the State of California as a gift from the Hearst Family. In return, the State of California promised to keep it open for tours and never to to finish the construction project which William Hearst described as only being 50% completed.

Travel Time-
Under 5 hours from Sacramento
Just under 4 hours from San Francisco
Just under 4 hours from Los Angeles